KUALA LUMPUR: A government backbencher today claimed that the announcement made by Pas that former Umno member Datuk Jailani Khamis joined the party was an insult to the Dewan Rakyat.
Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) also questioned Pas' motives and said Jailani, who is Rembia assemblyman in Melaka, should have made the announcement on joining Pas a year ago.
"If you have hopped (party), why didn't you announce it a year ago? (You are) only announcing it now and waiting (over) a year (to announce it) in Parliament to deceive the people.
"Hence, I want to ask if they have any permission to hold a press conference like this which has insulted Parliament," he said during the debate for the Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill in Dewan Rakyat.
Chong called the opposition "hypcorites" following the wearing of a white ribbon as a protest against the decision made by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul not to vacate the seats held by six former Bersatu members.
"Don't wear the ribbon while you announce an assemblyman joining Pas... you don't walk your talk, (and this is) the biggest hypocrisy where I think we cannot accept it."
Earlier today, Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan in a press conference held in the Parliament building said Jailani had officially joined the Islamist party.
Takiyuddin said Jailani became a member of the party in June last year, after an application made by the latter on June 10.
He said Jailani's membership in Pas would not impact his status as an assemblyman because the Melaka Legislative Assembly had yet to implement any anti-party hopping laws when Jailani joined the party.
Chong later enquired Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau to clarify whether the press conference held by Pas was allowed in Parliament.
Lau, however, said Chong should seek clarification from Johari.